COD x GenGPS: Powering the Desert’s Digital Future

College of the Desert, City of Palm Springs, Visit Greater Palm Springs and Local Businesses Team Up to Build a Future-Ready Hub for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation

At the sold-out AI & Creativity Expo 2025, the spotlight wasn’t only on the latest technology, but also on how strategic collaboration between College of the Desert (COD), the City of Palm Springs, Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS), and local businesses is working to build a stronger, more resilient local economy.

COD’s participation in the Expo, highlighted by its immersive “GenJam” student AI workshop, offered a glimpse into the college’s broader vision: transforming its new Palm Springs campus into a regional hub for innovation, workforce training, and creative technology.

“This isn’t just about AI. It’s about shaping a local economy where students, small businesses, and industries grow together,” said COD Superintendent/President Val Martinez Garcia.

A Shared Vision for Economic Growth

COD’s vision aligns seamlessly with Palm Springs’ strategic economic development priorities, including equity, workforce readiness, and industry collaboration. Both institutions share a focus on inclusive growth, particularly for underserved communities, and both see education as a cornerstone of economic mobility.

The $405 million investment in the new Palm Springs campus is central to this vision. It’s more than a place of learning—it’s an engine for economic activation, offering:

• A Training & Skills Center aligned with industry needs in hospitality, healthcare, digital media, clean energy, and culinary arts.
• A 10 Gbps broadband infrastructure expandable to 100 Gbps, enabling AI and media labs, smart campus applications, and digital entrepreneurship.
• A multi-use event center designed to drive foot traffic, retail spending, and year-round tourism by hosting conferences, performances, and creative exhibitions.
• A student-run Culinary Institute & restaurant that strengthens the region’s food and hospitality ecosystem while providing hands-on training.
• Healthcare simulation labs that expand science and applied learning opportunities in STEM and health related pathways.
• Mock hotel rooms and related hospitality education and training facilities to support real-world learning.

Creating an AI-Forward Economy

While the Expo showcased emerging uses of generative AI, it also underscored the region’s readiness to lead. COD plans to expand its AI-driven programs—including basic skills training, makerspace and tech labs for media, filmmaking, and applied AI—to give students and local businesses access to future-facing tools and skills.

This fall, the College is offering “Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI): Foundations for Creativity” classes as well as training and certification through its Partnership and Community Education (PaCE) program.

GenAI has rapidly transformed the landscape in creative industries. As higher education seeks to prepare students for a world shaped by intelligent technologies, these courses and classes will provide an overview of GenAI, exploring its applications, creative individual in the industry, addressing ethical implications, and developing creative content using critical considerations. And more courses are on the way.

“We’re building a talent pipeline right here that serves our local economy and puts Greater Palm Springs on the map as a place of innovation,” said President Martinez Garcia.

These efforts support the Greater Palm Springs vision to become a destination not just for tourism, but also for business, tech talent and creative entrepreneurs. The city’s tech-forward focus, combined with Visit Greater Palm Springs’ national storytelling campaign and business attraction strategy, make COD a natural partner.

Collaboration in Action

This multi-sector partnership is already yielding results:

• Youth engagement and K–12 pipelines are expanding access to education.
• Industry advisory boards guide curriculum development and ensure real-world relevance.
• Workforce programs, such as hospitality mentorships and healthcare training, are co-designed with employers to meet hiring needs.
• Creative economy initiatives, like AI storytelling and digital production labs, are giving students hands-on experience with tools used by local businesses and global firms alike.

“Tech is one of our City’s priorities in our economic development strategic plan. In recent years, there has been an influx of tech talent to the area, and there is now a clear path towards realizing this growth,” said Palm Springs Councilmember Jeffrey Bernstein. “However, a key element is using that talent to not only support businesses, but also to help our students.  AI and new tech developments present a unique opportunity to both align our goals of providing opportunity to the students, creating a strong tech workforce and enabling economic opportunities for the city. This regional collaboration isn’t an option – it’s essential.”

Looking Ahead

COD, the City of Palm Springs, and Visit Greater Palm Springs are not just aligned in their strategies, they are co-creating impact through shared investments, programs, and messaging. As COD’s Palm Springs campus comes online, its role as a nexus for AI, creative technology, and workforce innovation will only deepen.

Together, they’re creating an economic model rooted in equity, talent development, and local opportunity, one that ensures the next generation of Palm Springs residents isn’t just ready for the future but leading it.